Impact absorbing shaker conveyor drive



Juiy 13, 1965 L. D. HAGENBOOK IMPACT ABSORBING SHAKER CONVEYOR DRIVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1962 INVENTOR. Loy D. #agenbook k fg ATTORNEYS BY /M July 13, 1965 L. n. HAGENBOOK IMPACT ABSORBING SHAKER CONVEYOR DRIVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 23, 1962 lay D. fiagmbook BY x/z; ,A 7%, zwwam ATTORNEYS y 3, 1965 D. HAGENBOOK IMPACT ABSORBING SHAKER CONVEYOR DRIVE Filed Nov. 23, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 k #w Tb H mm N Wm MM n D. W/A v Star Unite S Loy D. Hagenboolr, Chicago, llh, assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Iih, a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. Z39A4 11 Claims. (Cl. 198-220) This invention relates to improvements in shaker conveyors and more particularly relates to such conveyors adapted to handle hot heavy abrasive material.

Shaker conveyors have heretofore been used in industrial installations and particularly in foundries to convey castings, scrap, sprues and gates, scale and molding sand. Such conveyors are rigidly mounted on a permanent base or foundation and are generally subject to heavy maintenance due to the impact forces that develop due to the changes in acceleration occurring near the middle of the strokes of the conveyor trough line in conjunction with back lash existing between the gear teeth and pins and bushings in the power train, which tend to tear up the drive mechanism and housing therefor.

While shock or impact absorbing elements may be introduced in the drive to the trough line, such elements tend to modify the conveying action to the extent that the trough line will not convey at the proper speed. In fact, cushioning of the joints and the mounting of the drive can so modify the accelerating producing forces of the drive mechanism, that the drive will last indefinitely without maintenance or repair. Such a conveyor, however, will no longer operate as a shaker conveyor.

A principal object of the present invention is to remedy the foregoing deficiences in shaker conveyors and drive mechanisms therefor by introducing impact absorption elements at selected points in the connection from the drive mechanism to the trough line, to sufiiciently modify the forces, produced with changes in direction of acceleration and back lash, to save wear without detracting from the essential character of the conveyor as a shaker drive mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to improve upon the shaker conveyor drive mechanisms heretofore in use in industrial installations for conveyingheavy material, by floatingly mounting the drive mechanism on a permanent base, and by transmitting the thrust reactions of the drive mechanism directly to the ground at a point spaced from the base and in substantial alignment with the driving forces to the trough line.

A still further object of the invention is to increase the maintenance free life of shaker conveyor drive units by supporting the drive unit on a base for shiftable movement relative to the base, by providing a thrust reaction member transmitting the thrust reactions of the drive mechanism to the ground, and by interposing'impac't absorbing elements between the drive mechanism and thrust reaction member, allowing the drive unit to shift on the base relative to the thrust reaction member, and to thereby relieve the drive unit from driving impact strains.

Still another object of the invention is to increase the maintenance free life of shaker conveyors utilized for conveying castings and other heavy material in steel mills, foundries and the like, by floatingly mounting the drive unit on a permanent base and transmitting the forces of conveying to the ground by a thrust absorbing member in general alignment with the trough line, and by connecting the drive unit to the thrust reaction member through force absorbing elements introducing sufficient force absorption to minimize wear on the drive unit without impairing the ability of the trough line to progress material therealong.

Blddfihl Fatented July 13, 1965 These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accom anying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the shaker conveyor unit constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the unit shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the shaker conveyor drive unit showing a conveying trough in phantom;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line i4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view in side elevation of a drive mechanism and conveying unit with the base therefor shown in section, and illustrating a modified form in which my invention may be embodied; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIGURE 6.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, I have shown a series of connected conveyor troughs 10, forming a shaker conveyor trough line, and supported for reciprocable movement with respect to a base 11, which may be a reinforced concrete base permanently formed on the floor of a foundry. The base 11 is shown as having a plurality of levels having a central recessed portion 12 having beams 13 extending along said base on an upper level 14, at opposite ends of said recessed portion. The beams 13 form supports for roller supports 15 having rollers 16 mounted thereon and engaged by guide tracks 16a, which may be in the form of angle irons secured to the bottoms of the trough sections 10 and having outer vertical legs depending therefrom along the outsides of the rollers 16.

A shaker conveyor drive mechanism 17 is floatingly mounted on the base 11 on a lower level 18, to one side of the troughs It The drive mechanism 17 includes a housing 19 mounted on a base plate 20, floatingly mounted on the base 11 on the level 18 in a manner which will hereinafter be more clearly described as this specification proceeds. As shown in FIGURE 3, the inner wall of the "housing 19 extends along a wall 21 of the base 11 and the housing extends along the level 18 into registry with the recessed portion 12 of said base. The shaker conveyor drive mechanism may be of any conventional form and includes a motor 23 mounted on the base plate 20 and having a drive shaft 24 extending within the housing 1? and serving as a drive member for reciprocating drive mechanism contained within said housing, for rockably driving a transverse rock shaft 25 journalled in said housing and extending beyond opposite sides thereof. The shaker drive mechanism 17 may be of a conventional form and is no part of the present invention so need not herein be shown or described further.

The opposite ends of the rock shaft 25 have rocker arms 26 suitably secured thereto and projecting upwardly therefrom. The rocker arms 26 are shown as having bifurcated upper end portions 27, receiving the parallel spaced legs 29 of a yoke 30 in the spaces between the furcations thereof. Pivot pins 31 pivotally connect the legs 29 to the rocker arms 26.

The yoke 30 has a connector 32 extending forwardly therefrom between the furcations of a bifurcated rocker arm 33 mounted on a rock shaft 35. A pivot pin 36 serves to connect the connector 32 to the rocker arm 33. The rock shaft 35 is mounted on a bearing bracket 37 forming an intermediate member in the drive to the troughs 10. The bearing bracket 37 is shown as having a base plate 39 and a right angled abutment plate 40 facing the housing 19 and braced by gusset plates 41 and bearing "'5 a j 1 r o support blocks 43 forming forms of self-aligning bearings.

7 supports for the bearings. for the rock shaft 35, which bearings may be well known 56,. as will hereinafterrmore clearly appear as thislsp ecie 1 fication proceeds.

conveyor troughsltl; The rocker arms 44'are shown'asa 1 having bifurcated upper end portions having puller rodsj' 45 extending between. the furcations of the bifurcated portions thereof, and 'pivotally connected thereto by pivot pins 46.

The puller rods 45 extend along thebottom or sides of the troughw within generally U-shaped connectors 47 drive yoke 49 isin the general form'of a plate and has 'an annular ring 51' mountedtherein at the transverse i center thereof having a yieldable bushing 52 'eng'ageable with'the inner wall thereof and extending about an an nular block 53 concentric with the ring 51 and spaced inwardly therefrom. The annular block 53 has a drive'pin 55 mounted therein and extending above and below said block. The. pivot pin 55 is mounted in vertically spaced plates 6a. and 57a secured to the bottom of the trough and forms a drive member for the troughs 10. It'will be a noted that theiannular ring 51 the bushing SZand the blocki53 extend between the plates 59a and 6iia,-respectively, secured to the bottom surface of the plate 545av and to the top surface .of the plate. 57a, to confine the,

material of the'bushing 52 for purposes which will here-.

matter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds;

7 Referring now in particular tocertain novel features of the .invention including the floating mounting of the housing 19 and the bearing bracket 37 and the yieldable connectionfrom the drive yoke 45?. to a drive trough 10,

the resultant thrusts from theconveying action are transmitted to the ground through thrust absorbing members '56, spaced to one side of the housing 19 beneath the drive trough 10, and in substantial alignment; with the puller rods 45 V V V As shown in FIGURES '3 and 4; each thrust'absorbing member. 55 is in the form of an abutment' post' and extendsrbetween the webs of a pair of parallel spaced ch'annels 57 buried in the concretebase 11 with the flanges of I said channels facing outwardly. The thrust absorbing members may fit relatively closely between the webs'of the, channels 57 and may be welded or otherwise secured thereto. An angle iron 59 extends. across the thrust absorbing. members 56 and has a horizontal leg 60 supported on the'thru'st absorbing members 56.-and a vertical thrust absorbing leg 61 extending downwardly alongthe thrust absorbing members 56 and abutting the forward faces of said thrust absorbingmembers, and .facing the vertical plate 40 of the bearing bracket 37. i a

The floating mounting for'the shaker, conveyor drive" mechanism 17 includes through bolts 63 loosely'extend-Q ing through the base .plates 29.1 Thejthrough bolts 63 are suitably mounted inthe base 11 and extend upwardly j therefrom through apertured portions (not shown) of the .plate 20; The bolts 63 are sufi'iciently loose instheir apertured portions or bolt holes to allow thehousing19 to slightly slip forwardly and backwardly during Opera tion of the :conveyor ifor reasons which will hereinafter. v

more clearly appear as this specification proceeds. .Op-;

posite sides of the base plate 20 around the bolts 63 are abutted by resilient pads 64, 64. The bottom pads 64 support the base plate 20 on the base .11.? The top pads 64 are abutted by metal plates 65 held in position by nuts 65 threaded on the bolts 63. Thefpads '64 may be bracket. with respect to the thrust absorbing elenients The bearing bracket 37 is supported-above the central; recessed portionIZ of the base 'll for' relative movement with respect tosaid'basein accordance with the resiliency of bearing pads 67', 6'7 and 69, '59, respectivelyf-interposed between the. bearing bracket 37 and the housing 19 :and i between the thrust absorbing elements 56f andfsaid beari, 1 'ing bracket}? 'As' shown in FIGURESfi .and.3,-*a' T-f shaped 'abutmentmember 70. extends across the 'front' of the housingi-9 and forwardly therefrom. The abutment memberfwfhas' a vertical'head jgl'facing the plate'40 of the bearing bracket -37 and ektending parallel to .said 2 plate. The'plate' til and head 71are; provided with bolt 5 holes 72 on opposites'ideso f the stem'of the Tfof' the T-shaped abutment rnemberiil, saidboltqholes only. being shown; herein in the platedii and registering :with similar. 1 a

bolt holes '73 'in;the pads1'67 mountedfonthehead "711m.

registry with the bolt holes 'exten'dingthrou'gh said head}, The pads67 face the'plate iiii and spaced pad s175 extend f along the back side'oif the head '71 on :oppo site'sidesof 7 the stem of the T. Metal abutment platesf76 abut. the v back sides of the pads;"and areladaptedltoibeengaged by the heads of bolts 77 bolting the ,bracket 37 to the housing w and accommodating relative 'movement of said.

bracket with respect to said housing-E 1 leg 61 of'the' angle 59 (FIGURE;4)..

It may be seen from the foregoing ithat thg im-5mg; tudinal reactions from the reciprocating'drive of the shaker conveyor drive mechahisrn are" fed. into the-jbase gthrough slightly resilient. connection between the .portion fof the 7 bearing bracket'37 immediately beneath the 'sbakerrcon-f .veyor' trough it) and the angle iron :59 welde'd across the. 1

top of the'thrust' reaction members 56.} The resilient .pads

67 and75 also p'rovidea similar:irnpacthbsorbing :con nection between the T-shaped abutmentrn emberflil and. the bearing bracket 37 'inqg'eneralalignmentwiththeaxes of rocking movement'of thejr -ock shafts Z5 -and:35.,i The 1 housing 19 being-mounted on} the ease. :11 fori limited .7 V movementwith respect to. said base in accordance with the V resiliency of thebea'ring pads'o i, 64',*rnayt hus compenw; sate for relative movementbetween the'partsdue to the j a re siliency :of the :resilientpads 67,-67', 75,175; 69, 69and V ltshduld'further be noted that since 'theiresilientipads 7,157 andj75, 75 are in'a' plane containing"thefaxespf v the rock shafts 25 and'35 thatthe thr'ust' 'reacti ons'will be exerted straight tbroughthegres'ilie'nt ads.67',"67;and 75, '75 to the'bearing bracket 37; This will thereby'avoid-j any tendency ofzthe bearing bracket 37 tomoveiangularly with respect to. the T-s'hapedabutmentmemberi7fl. The resilient'pads, 6 9,- 69 are-likewise in the plane ofrthe ariisr of the SllEtftfSSQ Thefor'egoingconstruction;itherefore, V

7 allows the casing .to fioatfrelative to the' groundcn' the resilient pads 1 64 and enables v the thrust reactions-of the drivemechanism to be'transmitted intqthegroundyfil through the thrust reaction members 56,:56.

. .70 made from rubber, an elastomer, nylon or Teflonior any other suitable materials having sufiicient resiliency to' altheiresilientp'zrds. 64;, 64;

It shouldIhere he understood thatEthe resilient pad s 67 s7 and 75, 75 and the re silient eseegpa and 81,81

- may be made from material like thematerialfrorniwhich I arejrnade and-that'the"material.: V usedmay be"selectedun accordancewithjth;resiliency required to cushion the'joint's andmountingsgoftheidr mechanism and the drive from the drive mechanism to the conveyor troughs, to provide resilient connections which will not detract from the essential character of the conveyor as a shaker conveyor.

The resilient bushing 52 between the annular rings 51 and 53 connected to the drive pin 55 also provides a limited amount of resiliency and impact absorption in the drive to the conveyor trough 10. It may be seen from FIGURE 4, that the bushing 52, which is preferably made from rubber or an elastomer, is confined between the plates 59a and 60a welded to the plates 56a and 57a respectively. The spacing between the plates 59a and 60a is substantially the thickness of the annular rings 51 and 53. The bushing 52 and annular rings 51 and 53, therefore, have to be forced into place between the plates 59a and 60a, under pressure. This provides a sufliciently low clearance fit that the rubber in the bushing 52 cannot extrude endwise in response to loads, and can only flow around from one side of its annular cross-section to the other. This utilizes a unique property of rubber, namely that it is incompressible to any practical extent. Thus, when the bushing 52 is completely enclosed in the cylindrical cavity between the annular rings 51 and 53, the rubber of the bushing can merely flow elastically from one side to the other of the bushing, as the puller rods are pulled or pushed. This drive connection to the trough not only reduces the wear formerly present in the drive to shaker conveyor troughs, but also absorbs just enough of the forces produced by the back lash and changes in direction of acceleration to provide the long life required in permanent shaker conveyor installations for use in conveying heavy material, without materially impairing the efficiency of the drive action of the drive unit.

In FIGURES 6 and 7, I have shown the principles of my invention applied to an underneath drive to a shaker conveyor trough line 85, extending over the top of a shaker conveyor drive mechanism 86. The shaker conveyor drive mechanism 86 is like the drive mechanism 17 and has a pair of laterally spaced driving rocker arms 87 extending upwardly therefrom pivotally connected at their upper ends with pull rods 88. The pull rods 88 are pivotally connected to opposite ends of a drive yoke 89 connected to the trough line 85 through a resilient bushing (not shown) as in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4. The drive mechanism 86 is mounted on a base plate 90 floatingly mounted on the upper outwardly extending flanges 91 of channels 92 which may be embedded in a single level concrete base 93. Bolts extending through the flanges 91 and loosely through bolt holes in the base plate 94 are provided to fioatingly connect said base plate to the channels 92. The bolts 95 extend through resilient pads 96 on opposite sides of the base plate 90 and through abutment plates 97 pressed into engagement with the top resilient pads by nuts 98 threaded on the bolts 95.

The shaker conveyor housing has a generally T-shaped thrust absorbing member 99 mounted thereon having a vertical head 100 facing a vertical leg 101 of an angle 103 extending across and welded to a pair of spaced thrust reaction members 104. The thrust reaction members104 extend vertically along the websof the channels 92 and abut the webs of parallel spaced similar channels 105 and are Welded or otherwise secured to the webs of said channels. A resilient pad 106 spaces the abutment head 100 from the vertical leg of the angle 103. Metal abutment plates 107 abut the heads of bolts 108 and press abutment pads 109 into engagement with the rear face of the head of the T-shaped abutment member 99. A resilient connection is thus provided between the shaker conveyor drive mechanism 86 and the thrust reaction members 104, to transmit the forces produced by changes in direction of acceleration to the ground through the thrust reaction members 104, and to thereby reduce the driving stresses on the shaker conveyor drive mechanism and relieve the housing for the drive mechanism from the driving strains imparted by the drive forces of conveying and to thereby materially reduce wear on the mechanism itself without impairing the shaking drive action.

It may be seen from the foregoing that an improved shaker conveyor drive mechanism has been provided in which the forces produced by back lash and changes in direction of acceleration of the conveyor are absorbed to the extent necessary to provide a long life shaker conveyor relatively free from wear, without impairing the drive characteristics of the conveyor. It may further be seen that the drive forces are transmitted to the ground through a series of resilient pads and that the resilient pads accommodate the conveyor housing to floatingly move along its base and thereby reduce the driving strains on said housing tending to tear the housing apart as well as the driving strains on the drive gearing contained within said housing.

It may further be seen that with the structure shown and described, the parts may readily be assembled to the base and to the thrust reaction members without precision in manufacturing and still provide a snug fit between the parts and that the resilient pads are so located as to be in general alignment with the push pull reactions of conveying, to avoid the tendency of the drive reactions to unduly tilt the mechanism during the operation of conveying.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it may readily be understood that various variations and modifications in the invention may be attained without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

. I claim as my invention:

1. In a shaker conveyor drive unit:

a base,

a shaker conveyor trough mounted for reciprocable movement along said base,

a thrust reaction member secured to said base and extending upwardly therefrom,

a drive housing, shif-table support means for said drive housing on said base supporting said drive housing for shiftable movement relative said base,

at least one rocker arm journalled in said housing and reciprocably driven to produce a shaker drive action,

a drive connection from said rocker arm to said shaker conveyor trough including a resilient connecting member connecting said rocker arm to said shaker conveyor trough,

and a resilient connection between the drive housing andthe thrust reaction member effective to absorb thrust reaction between the drive housing and the thrust reaction member while enabling the housing to shift on the base and thereby maintain the housing relatively free of driving strains.

2; In a shaker conveyor drive unit:

a base,

a thrust reaction member fixed to said base and extending vertically therefrom,

a drive housing having a base plate,

a shiftable mounting for said drive housing on said base including resilient pads on the top and bottom sides of said base plate and securing means retaining said pads to said base plate and said base and securing said base to said base plate for shiftable movement with respect thereto,

at least one rocking arm rockably mounted on said housing and reciprocably driven'to produce a conveying action,

a drive connection from said rocking arm to a shaker conveyor for reciprocably driving .the same,

and a resilient pad interposed between said housing and said thrust reaction member effective to absorb thrust reaction between said drive housing and the conveyor while enabling said drive housing to shift on a a fixed thrust reaction member,

3,194,391 7 a conveyor t-r-o'ughv while enabling the. housing to shift on the base tozrnain-tain thelhousing relatively free ,ofdriving strains. h a -7. 'In a shaker.{ conveyor drive unit;

V 7, r s said base to maintain said housing relatively free of driving strains; 7 a a 3. In a shakerconveyor drive unit: 7 a base,

thrustreaction between the drive housing and the a drive housing supportedonsaid'base for shiftablef a fixed thrust reaction member secured to said basetand a movement relative to said base, i j projecting upwardly therefromj if 3 an intermediate member having oonnecti-onsbe-tween V a drive housing supported on said base for limitedshiftr said drive'housingandsaid thrust reaction member, f abl e'movement relative totsaidibaseQ '1" r g a rock'shaft journalled on said intermediate member, 7 an intermediate members-having connections between 2 1 a rockabledrive shafton said, drive housing andnconthe drive housingtandsthethrustreaction'memberf 7 nected with said rock shaft for rockably driving said at rock shaft journalled on .said intermediate member; 7

shaft, j arockable drive shaftjourn-alled insaid housin gparailel 1 a drive connection from said rock shaft to a shaker to saidrockfs-haft and having a rockabl-efaxis lying" j conveyor troughline, h V I in'the same planeraszthe' axisfof sardflrockjhrft,f at least one of the iconnections between the housing a .ro'ckc-ir armv and link oonnection- :bet veen-isa'id'drive a a g V and the thrustreac-tion member being resilient and, shaft and saidrock shaft,- 1,; p l:

7 being efiective to absorb thrust reaction between vthe at least one of the. connections between 'thetdrive. hous- I drivehousing and the conveyor while enablingthe ingjtheintermediate member and the:thr'ustreactio'n housing to-shift on thebase t-o'maintainth-e hous- 2O 7 memberbeing resilient andkbeing'coplan-ar'with the? 'ing relatively free of driving strains, drivev and rock shaftaxes'to enable the thrust r'eacejy' 4. In a shaker conveyor drive unit: tions ,of driving to, be exerted straight: through said a a base, resilient'oonnection tor therebyfre'e 'saidintermediat'e 3 i a fixed thrust reaction member, s a member fromrtwistingforlcess i Y a drive housing supported on said base 'for shiftable 8. Inia shaker conveyor drive unit: movement relative to said base, Y a a baseg1= 1 f an intermediate member having connections between a fixed thrust reactionjmember," a V said drive housing andsaid thrust reaction member, a a drive'housingsupported:on's'aidbase'for'liniitedshiit I a rock shaft journalled .on the intermediate member, 1 able movement relative to said base, h f I: j V driving means extending'from; the drive housing to the 1 h an intermediate member"having"connectionst between rock shaft and from the rock shaft :toward and said drive'housing' andsaid thrust reaetion'mernber; 1

adapted to be connected to reciprocablydrive'a a a rockshaft journalledongsaid,intermediatelmemberp j shaker conveyor trough line, i a rockabledrive shaft'journalled injsa'idfho' ing parali andsaid connections between said'drive housing and leltosaid rock shaft, 1; P 1 I said intermediate member and said intermediate ,35 a link androcking arm" connection between said drive; member and said thrust reaction member being re-- "shattand said rockshaft, a V

silient pads effective to absorb thrust. reactions be said driveshaft'and said rock shaft "having i'rockable tween theldrive housing of the conveyonwhile en- I faxes lyingin thesameipl-a ne, 1 1 f ablingthe housing tQShift onthe base and maintain and resilient 'pads iinterposedbetween said drive hon the housing relatively free of driving strains. 4 0 'ing and said intermediate membereand betweensagd I 7 5. In a shaker conveyorvdrive unit: r intermediate memberjand said thrust rea'cti'onmeni-j a'base, g f t 7 b 5 G h 5 a a fixed thrust reaction member, I means, securing,;saidgmembers into abuttingwengage' 1 a h V merit withs'aid padsg an intermediate member having connections between said resilient pads, and securinghleansbeing coplanar the drive housing and the thrust reactionmember, with the axes organ rockabledrive lshaftan'd said,

' a rock shaft journalled on the intermediate member, o rock-shaft and'thereby enabi-ingfthe driving thrust a driving means extendingfrom the drive housing to thereactions from-saiddrive' housin gito said thrust-rerock shafit and from the rock shaft to drivea shakenv action 'memberi'to be exertedjfdireotly,through said conveyor trough' 'line, e a 5'0 resilient-Connection without tending to twist'jsaidlin means-connectingthe drive housing ;to said base vandt termediate members 1 i accommodating shiftable movement *of ,said drive 7 9. Ina shaker conveyor unit and in combinatidn with a housing IClQtlVeftO said base comprising resilient rub a shaker conveyortrough; t if l t ber like pads connected between said housing and a d 've connectionto-said troughg'including-a yoke ex base, V l tending tnansverselytgof saidig'trough beneath' fsaid' and atle'ast one of the connectionsbetween thedr-ive 1 trough, f j f a. housing and thetthrustreaction member being re-f puller 'rodsconnectedto' said oltef forgreciprocably "silient and thereby being eife'ctive'to absorb thrust a driving saidyoke, I y 7 reaction between the drive housing and the conveyor g a drivevpin mounted in saidyoke and extending ab'oy 7 while enabling the housing to shift on thebase and no =andbelowsaid yokeitorioonneotionjwith' a shakerf l thereby maintain thehousing relatively freeof drivconveyortroughline, i a V g; V V 1 t i ing strains, 7 a 1 'a resilient; drive connectiongbetween saidiy-oke andpi H t 6. In a shakertconveyo'r drive unit, including anjannularme'rnbe-r forming a mounting i a base,: 7 forsaidpim; 1 -2-1- 1 a thrust reaction member, r 1 a rubber-like bushing encircling saidannular member 7 a drive housing driving means extending from the drive i and interposedjbetween saidyoke and piniand mean housing and adapted tobe connected to reciprocably confining opposite'ends goffsaid bushing and iforcin drive a shaker conveyor'including a pair of'pulle'r 1 t the rubber ofsaidbushing tofio'w from one sideto-the rods and ayoke, a a f" i i t t Y other oft-sa id pin;upon,reciprocabie movement ofi a resilient drive connection between, the: yoke Za'nd'ai said yoke ettected by backan 'forth mbve'ment-o conveyor trough compri-sing a completely. enclosed --said pu ller rodszx f A; a 1 bb flik bu hi I -10; In a shakerconveyoridrive,unit an and a resilient connection between the drive housing 'withtashaker conveyor trough E V h V, V and the thrust reaction member effective to absorb a pair of'pullerfarms recipnocably dri b saidzdnvel ,unit, t v

a yoke connected with said puller arms,

a pair of vertically spaced plates secured to and extending along the bottom of said trough,

said yoke fitting in the space between said plates and the space between said plates being of substantially the thickness of said yoke,

-a vertical drive pin,

an annular connector block for said drive pin mounted in said yoke,

there being a cylindrical cavity between said connector and said yoke,

a rubber-like bushing filling said cavity,

said plates confining said bushing to said cavity and forcing said bushing to flow elastically from one side to the other of said drive pin as said puller rods are pulling or pushing on said yoke and trough section.

11. Ina shaker conveyor drive unit,

.a base,

a thrust reaction member fixed to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, t

a drive housing supported on said base and having a base plate projecting from said housing,

means securing said housing to said base for limited shiftable movement with respect to said base including resilient pads interposed between said base plate and said base and other resilient pads in alignment with said first mentioned resilient pads and engaging the top of said base plate,

securing means engaging said other resilient pads and securing said base plate to said base for limited shiftable movement with respect thereto,

an abutment plate extending across an end of said housanother abutment plate secured to said thrust reaction member to one side of said housing and in alignment with said first mentioned abutment plate,

:an intermediate member resting on said base,

resilient pads interposed between said abutment plate and said intermediate member,

means securing said intermediate member to said abutment plate including through bolts and resilient pads on the opposite sides of said abutment plate and engaged with said abutment plate by said through bolts,

a rock shaft rockingly mounted in said intermediate member,

a parallel rocka-ble drive shaft journalled in said drive housing,

a rocking arm and linkage connection between said drive shaft and said rock shaft,

the axes of rocking movement of said rockable drive shaft and said rock shaft lying in the same plane and said resilient pads being coplanar with the plane of the axes of said shafts and enabling the driving thrust reactions to be exerted straight through said resilient connection and thereby relieving said intermediate member from twisting forces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,266,906 12/41 Rapp. 2,894,397 7/59 Brum agln. 2,914,313 11/59 Morris.

FOREIGN PATENTS 501,843 7/30 Germany. 116,869 6/ 1 8 Great Britain.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner. 

1. IN A SHAKER CONVEYOR DRIVE UNIT: A BASE, A SHAKER CONVEYOR TROUGH MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT ALONG SAID BASE, A THRUST REACTION MEMBER SECURED TO SAID BASE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, A DRIVE HOUSING, SHIFTABLE SUPPORT MEANS FOR SAID DRIVE HOUSING ON SAID BASE SUPPORTING SAID DRIVE HOUSING FOR SHIFTABLE MOVEMENT RELATIVE SAID BASE, AT LEAST ONE ROCKER ARM JOURNALLED IN SAID HOUSING AND RECIPROCABLY DRIVEN TO PRODUCE A SHAKER DRIVE ACTION, A DRIVE CONNECTION FROM SAID ROCKER ARM TO SAID SHAKER CONVEYOR TROUGH INCLUDING A RESILIENT CONNECTING MEMBER CONNECTING SAID ROCKER ARM TO SAID SHAKER CONVEYOR TROUGH, AND A RESILIENT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DRIVE HOUSING AND THE THRUST REACTION MEMBER EFFECTIVE TO OBSORB THRUST REACTION BETWEEN THE DRIVE HOUSING AND THE THRUST REACTION MEMBER WHILE ENABLING THE HOUSING TO SHIFT ON THE BASE AND THEREBY MAINTAIN THE HOUSING RELATIVELY FREE OF DRIVING STRAINS. 